Young people were given the chance to get the career they want at a major Loughborough College event this week as Secretary of State for Education Nicky Morgan joined a host of big names and local businesses on the lookout for new talent.
Part of Bridge to Work, which won the College a prestigious national further education ‘Oscar’, the initiative links employers, schools and colleges and the community to provide support and training to create a ‘talent pipeline’ for a huge and growing number of employers in the East Midlands.
Companies getting involved with the initiative so far include Caterpillar, Marks and Spencer, 3M, Boots, DHL, Premier Inn, RBS and Macdonalds.
Education Secretary and Loughborough MP Nicky Morgan has backed Bridge to Work since it began in 2012 and described how the initiative had inspired a brand new national company.
“Many employers are keen to recruit young people as soon as they finish their education so they can train, develop and harness talent and potential from the word go. Yet they are concerned that many students lack work-place skills and experience.
“The excellent Bridge to Work makes sure young people have the information and training experiences they need to meet this gap.
“It was terrific to attend the Family Information Event and great to see how engaged all the visitors and employers were.
“Bridge to Work has been a huge success and was behind my decision to back a national Careers & Enterprise Company.”
The recently-launched company is a national body, independent of government which is designed to offer inspiration and support around employability. CEO Claudia Harris, who spent the day with Bridge to Work said: “It has been great to see the initiative in action, particularly the innovative digital portal which regularly links schools and colleges with employers.
“This really works and that is what we are looking at to help us create a framework across England to improve networks between young people and employers.”
Bridge to Work’s Emma Pattison said: “We have already helped hundreds and hundreds of young people and we are really excited to be talking to organisations, sharing our expertise and expanding the reach of Bridge to Work.
“When a school or college student is told there are jobs out there and what they need to do to be successful, it can be really inspiring for them. For the employers, joining us to help create their own ‘talent pipeline’ can only benefit their company and their industry.
“We are now looking at the launch of an adult group, supporting under 25s in their search for employment.”
Zac Brown, 18 and from Loughborough, encouraged other young people to get in touch with Bridge to Work. ‘I really wasn’t sure what to do next when I reached 16 but Bridge to Work helped guide me and develop a CV and put me in touch with Polypipe. Now I am going into my third year of an apprenticeship with them, getting practical experience, gaining qualifications and earning. “
Julia Smith, from Woodhouse Eaves, described Bridge to Work as “fabulous” after it helped her son Olly, 17 get an opportunity to enter the career of his dreams. “After a difficult year in school sixth form when he broke his arm twice he ended up failing his exams. He wasn’t sure what to do next but despite us making lots of enquiries there seemed to be no one able to give him advice – and as months passed Olly became less and less motivated. Then Bridge to Work was recommended to us.
“Within days Olly had had a careers interview, was referred to the Prince’s Trust, had an assessment and won a place on a training programme for retail, which is what he really wants a career in. I am delighted and Olly is very excited. To have an independent service to offer direction and opportunities like Bridge to Work really is very much needed. I can’t thank them enough.”
The Loughborough College event invited 13 to 18 year olds and their families to meet one on one with employers, while specialist employment and career experts and other young people already in apprenticeships, at college or in work were on hand to offer valuable advice. School and college students signed up for Bridge to Work support over the coming year, including employability skills workshops and a job matching service.
Bridge to Work’s latest innovation is a regular digital portal service between students in the region and a host of employers from a diversity of sectors.
Around 30 large and small businesses came together at Loughborough College representing a range of industries from travel and tourism, telecommunications, science and technology, motor vehicle, engineering and construction, banking and finance, retail, logistics, manufacturing, health and child care, and hotels and hospitality.
Employers included Marks and Spencer, 3M, DHL, RBS, Premier Inn, Macdonalds, Western Power, Ragdale Hall, Leicestershire Police, Unitrove, DBS, Fox Medics and Paramedics, Leicester City Football Club, Samworth Brothers, Imago, Dalycom, local government, Leicester Shire Promotions, Limetree Day Nurseries, Polypipe, Selby’s Garage, American Golf, Charnwood Arts, stylecreative, DART training, and Baobab Café. Among the services and providers on offer were REED, Young Enterprise, The Prince’s Trust and the National Citizen Service.
Pictured (left to right): Bridge to Work’s Emma Pattison, Education Secretary and Loughborough MP Nicky Morgan, Loughborough College Vice Principal Yiannis Koursis, Careers and Enterprise Company CEO Claudia Harris and Debi Donnarumma, Loughborough College Vice Principal